Marvel: Protagonists Template

———————————————

patreon.com/Lonely_Translator

———————————————

'Now that's something worth seeing.'

Almost involuntarily, Mark's gaze drifted toward the chasm before him, only to find himself abruptly captivated by what lay in view. Despite occupying the body of a child, barely eleven or twelve years of age, his soul was that of a fully matured adult from his previous life. The duality of his existence left him uniquely susceptible to certain... natural distractions. With the onset of puberty just beginning to influence his young physiology, and combined with the matured consciousness he carried, it was only inevitable that such proximity to a striking visual stimulus would provoke a visceral, instinctive response.

Perhaps, he mused with wry detachment, this was one of the few advantages of reincarnating into a child's body.

"Everything is going to be alright"

Storm, unaware of the internal conflict raging within Mark, gently patted his head and straightened herself. In her eyes, he was still merely a child, innocent, vulnerable, and in need of reassurance. She did not, and perhaps could not, fathom the complex inner landscape of the boy standing before her.

Mark, for his part, quickly recomposed himself, clearing his throat awkwardly. Realizing the inappropriateness of his earlier reaction, he quickly shifted the conversation toward something more pressing.

"Piotr still hasn't been able to reach the Professor," he said, choosing his words with caution but clarity.

"The intruders we encountered yesterday seemed primarily focused on Cerebro. Considering what Logan has told me about the Professor's telepathic abilities, and the function of the Cerebro amplifier, I suspect they've already captured him and are planning to use both him and the machine for something far more sinister."

The room fell silent.

The accuracy of Mark's deduction stunned those present. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, his hypothesis aligned with recent events in a way that was difficult to dismiss.

Logan stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Mark's shoulder. "Don't underestimate this kid," he said with a tone of sincere endorsement.

"From what I've noticed, his mutant ability allows him to greatly enhance his physical abilities and release energy-based attacks."

"Most of the soldiers who infiltrated the mansion last night? He took out the majority of them. Multiple helicopters were destroyed in the process. Without him, things would've gone a lot worse. Even I would've had a hard time managing on my own."

He gave a meaningful pause, then added, "So I think we should bring him into the upcoming meetings and operations."

This was not a spontaneous endorsement. Mark had already approached Logan that morning with a series of inquiries and hypotheses, many of which uncannily aligned with the intelligence that Magneto's faction had independently uncovered. Moreover, after their shared combat experience the previous night, Logan had come to view Mark as a reliable ally on the battlefield.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with the fact that Mark had subtly threatened to inform Professor Xavier about their shared indulgence in smoking and drinking the previous evening. Logan would never be swayed by blackmail. Or so he liked to believe.

"What an extraordinary young talent,"

Magneto remarked, eyes shining with barely concealed admiration. His gaze fell upon Mark with the fervor of a recruiter who had just discovered a prodigious gem, an uncut diamond waiting to be polished into something magnificent.

To encounter a child of such strength, intellect, and charisma was exceedingly rare. If properly cultivated, Mark could easily ascend to become one of the most formidable leaders of mutantkind. And if Magneto could bring him under the banner of the Brotherhood, he would gain not only a powerful ally, but a successor worthy of his legacy.

"But he's still just a child," countered Storm.

Jean Grey nodded in agreement. The two female instructors appeared visibly unsettled by the prospect of involving a young boy in the high-risk mission that lay ahead. Regardless of his talents, they saw a child first and a combatant second. To them, no amount of ability justified placing a minor on the battlefield.

"He is not a mere child," Magneto retorted with forceful conviction.

"He is a warrior. And in my view, far more suited for what lies ahead than the pampered flowers Charles has cultivated in his greenhouse."

His words were calculated, delivered not only to sway the others but to win over Mark himself. He understood that children who possessed great strength often lacked one critical element, validation. By acknowledging Mark as an equal, as a fighter deserving of respect, he planted the seeds of allegiance.

And truthfully, Magneto meant what he said. With the exception of Wolverine, the rest of Xavier's students and allies were, in his eyes, naive idealists, overly principled and tragically reluctant to strike decisively. Even when confronted with mortal enemies, they hesitated, holding back blows that should have been fatal. Their idealism rendered them ineffective in the real world, a reflection of Charles Xavier's pacifistic influence.

Had Xavier been willing to kill him outright during their many confrontations, the Brotherhood would have ceased to exist long ago.

"A greenhouse flower, huh?" Logan scoffed, raising his right hand and extending a single adamantium claw, the middle one. The gesture was unmistakable.

Magneto merely chuckled, unbothered. "Still as uncouth as ever, I see."

Of course, Logan was well aware of the power Magneto held over him. His adamantium skeleton made him uniquely vulnerable to Magneto's manipulation, an invisible, ever-present threat that could be activated at any moment.

Mystique stepped forward, her touch trailing mockingly along Logan's chin as she leaned into Magneto's side with a smirk.

"Your luck won't save you every time," she purred.

"Okay, okay, can we not dig up old grievances right now?" Mark interjected, stepping between them. His tone was diplomatic but firm.

"Shouldn't we be focusing on rescuing the Professor?"

There was a moment's pause. Even the two warring factions were reluctant to argue further when the voice of reason came from the youngest among them.

"You're right," Magneto conceded, nodding slowly.

"For the sake of Charles and for the safety of all mutantkind, we must cooperate."

Logan, after a brief glance at Jean and Storm, retracted his claws without further protest.

With the tension momentarily defused, Mark took a decisive step forward and grasped the hands of both Storm and Jean Grey.

"I know you're only thinking of my well-being," he said, looking earnestly into their eyes.

"But this situation is unlike any other. We're not just protecting the school, we're trying to save the Professor, all mutants, and yes, even my younger siblings. That means I must take part."

He gave them a confident smile and added, "Please, don't worry about me. I was raised in a war-torn country, Sokovia. I know how to fight, and more importantly, I know how to protect myself. If things get dangerous, I will survive."

The sincerity in his gaze was unmistakable. Storm and Jean exchanged glances, their expressions softening.

At last, both women sighed and gave him a reluctant nod of approval.

What a remarkable child, they thought to themselves. What strength. What clarity of purpose.

"Just remember," Storm whispered, bending close to his ear

"that old man over there is not to be trusted. Don't believe a word of what he says."

She gestured subtly toward Magneto, her tone laced with concern. She feared that Mark's youth might leave him susceptible to Magneto's radical ideology.

"Don't worry," Mark replied with a smile.

"I'm not that easy to deceive."

Soon after, the entire group convened in the briefing room that Colossus had prepared in advance. It was there that they began to formally strategize the next phase of their operation.

The meeting commenced with Magneto presenting the intelligence he had gathered.

"The situation is as follows," he began.

"Stryker has constructed a new Cerebro chamber at his base, far more advanced than the original. The reason they stole the core unit last night was almost certainly to complete the installation. Should he succeed in forcing Charles to use it under his control, he could wipe out every mutant on Earth."

He paused, his gaze scanning the room. "All of you, except me, would perish."

He tapped his helmet for emphasis. The device protected him from psychic intrusion and telepathic control. The message was clear: while he would survive the worst-case scenario, the X-Men were racing against a clock that would end in their extinction.

"I have not, however, been able to pinpoint the exact location of Stryker's base," he admitted. "It remains elusive."

At that moment, he glanced briefly toward Logan, then smirked.

"But one of you should know."

"I've already tried," Logan replied with frustration. "The Professor attempted to unlock my memory, but it's still a blank. I can't recall anything about that place."

Magneto raised an eyebrow, his voice oozing sarcasm. "Of course. Everything always has to be about you, doesn't it?"

"Actually," Mark interjected, turning everyone's attention toward him, "I believe the person he's referring to isn't Logan."

He pointed directly at Kurt Wagner, Nightcrawler.

"If Stryker once used him to attack the President, then there's a good chance he's seen the inside of the facility. If Professor Jean uses her telepathy to read his memories, we might uncover a clue about the base's location."

By volunteering this insight, Mark made a subtle but strategic move. Demonstrating his intellect was essential, not only to prove his worth, but to ensure that he held a voice at the table in the decisions to come. Otherwise, he would always be relegated to the sidelines, a child, regardless of what he had accomplished.